My top five books of the past decade
Doug Tableman |
Last Updated:2/10/10 Section: Book Reviews
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My rapidly expanding stature aside, I apologize in advance for the following list. Reading is a hobby for me, and if I am to spend hours on a book, it's going to be exhilarating. I wish I had the capacity to appreciate fine art, but I'll take a gunslinger (even a metaphorical one) over a social commentary any day. That said, let's begin.
5. The Exile - Allan Folsom
Kicking things off at number five is The Exile, a thriller that hits just about every base. Action-stuffed is a more appropriate term than packed. It starts off as a cop story, and it's a good one at that. But as we follow John Barron, the newest member of the LAPD 5-2 squad, the plot explodes from crime fighting to world domination. It's impossible to summarize without spoilers, but I will say that the chief factor in one's enjoyment of the book is how much crazyness you can put up with. The storyline makes fantastic leaps that will leave you asking, "What the hell?" more often than not. However, if you can follow Folsom's leaps of faith, then The Exile is a truly incredible experience.
4. Pursuit of Honor - Vince Flynn
Vince Flynn continues my action-movie-in-book theme, with the latest installment in the life of Mitch Rapp, the quintessential loose cannon. As a counter-terrorism CIA agent, Rapp acts largely on his own authority, which predictably makes him his fair share of enemies, even within his own government. These enemies are the subject matter of Pursuit of Honor, as Rapp chases down information leaks and deals with those who would cripple his ability to act. The book reads almost as a social critique, a plea for looser regulations in the war on terror. Even as a fairly liberal-minded person, I had to agree with Flynn's thesis that (at least in his fictional world), in modern warfare, one cannot defend one's enemies.
3. The Associate - Grisham
As Grisham was the first author I ever patronized, one of his books was bound to make this list. The Associate features third year law student Kyle McAvoy, who is quickly blackmailed into a world of espionage. Spying on a prestigious law firm, dealing with his past, and investigating the mysterious "Bernie," Grisham really draws you into Kyle's world. What impressed me was how much effort goes into the characterization, not just for the protagonist, but for the entire cast. Everyone in the story feels three-dimensional. The book remains a quintessential Grisham with its criticism of high-end law practice, yet distinguishes itself from his earlier works as it progresses. It concludes with an excellent blend of realism and happy endings.
2. Freakonomics - Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
Fans of my work (I couldn't type that with a straight face) will recall that I reviewed the sequel to this book, Superfreakonomics. Shortly after, I picked up the original and enjoyed it just as much as the other. This team of "Stevens" sets the standard for informative writing. Together, they've created a book which draws you in with humor, impresses you with knowledge, and changes your perspective. By taking economic analysis to uncharted territory (abortion anyone?), Levitt and Dubner teach the world how to analyze, in the same tone that one might use for a story at a party.
1. Gone Tomorrow - Lee Child
When I started this list, I decided I would only list one Lee Child novel. If not for that rule, you would already be well acquainted with his other works, as ranks five through two would also belong to him. The best description of Child's style I can think of is the phrase, "show, don't tell." Before even thinking about starting the action, every scene is described in extraordinary detail. Yet even in his descriptions, there is tension. Lee Child is a man who could describe the act of opening a window and make it seem like the most heart-pounding experience of your life.
Child's protagonist for Gone Tomorrow, as well as his other twelve novels, is Jack Reacher, a retired military policeman. A man with no home and no possessions, Reacher roams the country, if not looking for trouble, then certainly finding it. In this chapter, he is witness to a near unexplainable suicide on a New York subway. Everyone has questions: the cops, the family, and even some private outfit. Between answering and dodging them, something clicks. There was far more than meets the eye, and now it's on Reacher to find out what.
Child alternates books between first and third person, this being an example of the former. He says he's hesitant to use this perspective, as it limits the scope of narration, making it difficult to build suspense. However, seeing things entirely from Reacher's view lets the reader experience the way he builds up a case from the tiniest details.
I hope you've enjoyed a look into my personal literary tastes from our past decade. I suggest you hurry up and buy-out the list, before the prices jump when your professors make them required readings.
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